You can't meet hook ups in peace these days. The Data Protection Authority of Norway hit the dating app with a 6 million fine for sharing user data with advertisers without their consent.
The head of the Norwegian Data Protection Authority's international department said in a press release that they had concluded that Grindr had disclosed user data to third parties for behavioral advertisement without a legal basis.
Tindr is a location-based dating app that caters to the LGBTQ+ community. The Norwegian Consumer Council filed a complaint against Grindr in 2020 because of the app's location, age, and gender, as well as the potentially-sensitive fact that the user was on it. Advertisers could share that data with others once received.
In order to use the app at all, users had to give consent to their data being shared, and that was found to be a problem. Users weren't properly notified that their data was being used and shared.
This case could have implications around the world. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was passed in the EU in the year of 2018, and it states that any company that interacts with EU customers regardless of where they are based must comply with strict privacy and security rules. The companies will get hit with fines if not.
Many of the world's top media companies are based in the US, which is why the EU is picking up the slack. The likes of Facebook and Twitter will have to abide by the rules of the EU when it comes to their customers. The California Consumer Protection Act, which was passed in the year 2018, inspired some US states to pass their own smaller versions.
The initial fine was reduced by Norway because of Grindr. We hope that the new privacy and security measures will be extended to users around the globe.
US users will benefit from authorities who care about checking, regulating and holding accountable large social media corporations if that is the case. The EU's stricter regulations have done more for US security than our own members of Congress, who often ask inane, outdated questions that show they have no idea what's going on.
Thanks to Norway. It's seriously.
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